Tuesday, October 19, 2010

So it's 7pm and I just laid down in bed. I can't even sit up anymore. Mark is off to a bishopric meeting and we probably won't see him until close to 10 tonight. the kids are all asleep, except for shawn that keeps yelling from time to time "it's hungry!" pointing to his mouth. Though, after our experience yesterday I have learned that feeding "it" creates messy problems. So, Pedialyte and crackers today, we'll try oatmeal and rice tomorrow and see how it goes from there. Haley and Mark stayed home from school and rested. After their initial episode this morning, however, they seem quite improved! They even begged for toast this afternoon and we had a small bowl of oatmeal for dinner. 7up all day today, and we'll try toast and eggs in the morning, if they keep that down for an hour I'll let them go to school tomorrow. I have done more laundry today then I ever cared to do. I also have scrubbed more surfaces then I care to remember. I am toast. Goodnight!

So, Shawn Sunday morning woke up throwing up. Here we go, I thought, but he felt better the rest of the day. Then that night he started crying and the diarrhea started. Yesterday he looked good again, then last night, blah. You get the picture. Anyway, Little Mark came up in the middle of the night and said he had to throw up. I jumped up and yelled, "In the Bathroom!" Knowing I don't have a carpet cleaner and Shawn's lovely display on the living room carpet yesterday was almost too much to handle. So he obediently went and let it go in the bathroom....sink. Yuck. Haley was gracious enough to do it in the bath tub. at least there I can wash it down the drain. Suspiciously carrot chunks are always there, though I can't remember feeding them any yesterday...hmm....yuck. I know, this is your favorite post right!

Well, now my minions are on their 3rd disney movie. Laying on a sheet, and blanket with a bowl in their own little area in the living room. I have a mind to roll up the rug for safety. Hmmm.... hopefully we'll survive the day. Love you all, go get some lunch!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Monday, October 4, 2010

We've entered a photo contest for Parents magazine, there we're Thousands...of entrants. We we're picked to be a finalist! There are still over a hundred photos! To win we need your votes! Here's the link! If you received my e-mail before I don't believe you need an account, you just have to click on the link and then the button below the picture that says VOTE FOR ME!! Thanks!!

Several people wanted my cinnamon roll recipe from conference this weekend. Here it is, stolen from the Pioneer Woman, (you can find her website using the button on my sidebar) She has some great recipes!

This particular recipe was altered for my sissy's severe reaction to milk. The great thing about this dough is it can be refrigerated for up to 2 day! Also, omit all but 1 tbs sugar in the dough and you have a great pizza dough!

Warning! Make sure you READ the directions first! This isn't a normal recipe!

2 cups Sugar (I used 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup dark brown sugar, you will probably need more then this, just make it again)

Generous Sprinkling Of Cinnamon (I mixed this into the sugar for easy application of the two)

_____

MAPLE FROSTING:

1 bag Powdered Sugar

2 teaspoons Maple Flavoring

½ cups Milk (again I used Soy Milk)

¼ cups Melted Butter (Again, I used Nucoa)

¼ cups Brewed Coffee (I left this out completely and added another 1/4 cup of soy milk)

⅛ teaspoons Salt

Preparation Instructions

Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan. Scald the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point). Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in both packages of Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute. Then add 8 cups of all-purpose flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.

After rising for at least an hour, add 1 more cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir mixture together. (At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it – overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to overflow out of the pan, just punch it down).

When ready to prepare rolls: Sprinkle rolling surface generously with flour. Take half the dough and form a rough rectangle. Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Drizzle 1/2 to 1 cup melted butter over the dough. Now sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.

Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Next, pinch the seam of the roll to seal it.

Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a seven inch round foil cake or pie pan. Then begin cutting the rolls approximately ¾ to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans.

Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. Let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 400 degrees (see note below) until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.

For the frosting, mix together all ingredients listed and stir well until smooth. It should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Go crazy and don’t skimp on the frosting.

Note: My rolls don’t work for me at 400 degrees anymore. I now bake them at 375 degrees.

Shawn--looking at a man in the next campground with long brown hair and a beard--"Jesus!"

Marky--his first day of baseball, "Mom, why do I have to run around the bases, it seems dumb if I end up where I started!"

Marky--"I was playing rock, paper, scissors and Shawn cheated!"

Haley and Mark talking on the "Phone" (hands in ears) Haley--Helllo...is this Mark? Marky--No this is Brad....silence..Haley--Brad who?

Marky--"You know, in kindergarten Kashia really liked me....but we seperated in the first grade, she's in another class. Now Megan thinks I'm cute...Meeeeeggannn....ahhhhh she's cute. giggle"-heheheh

Marky after doing me a favor, "Yeah, I know I'm good. I just can't help it!"

Haley to Shawn, "You just don't understand!"

Mark and Haley Playing, Mark: "Haley, I am Harry Potter. (pointing stick at Haley) SILENCIO!" ..Haley just stares at him, Mark :"Good, now you can't talk." He goes on reading.

Mark--drawing a picture--"Look mom, these are fierce landscapers, they hunt birds and deer!" I reply.."Landscapers?" he says, "Yes! You know those people who hunt!"

Mark--"Mom, did you know that this used to be a lake?(salt flats) And if it were still here we'd all be under water? Wierd!"

Shawn--"What's this?" --to just about everything...;)

Haley, "Mom, I want to change my middle name to Ginger." -huh?

Driving down the highway(maybe in the twilight zone), listening to the news on the radio with my kids I started when suddenly it cracked then went silent. A voice came over the radio and said "Erin, Erin are you there?" Mark exclaimed. Mom! The car's talking to you.

Mark explaining to Haley what happens in a cemetery, "You die, then they bury you in a box, then you turn to dust, but you don't mind because your brain is in heaven!"

Marky in a Prayer, "We thank thee for Shawn that he could grown in mommy's tummy we really really like him, and want another."

Haley about the F-16 on display at the Aerospace Museum, 'Check it out mom! These are awesome!' (4 Years old?)

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Some of my Favorite Quotes

The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. - Mark Twain

I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

The people who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials, but the ones with the concern. ~Max Lucado

The truth is more important than the facts. - Frank Lloyd Wright

~Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces. ~Judith Viorst

If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair. Because five minutes at the fair, you'll be going, 'you know, we're alright. We are dang near royalty.' - Jeff Foxworthy

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.--Miss Piggy